Page 6 of Harboring Secrets
Clay’s face turned bright red and he glanced at Kieran, who shot me a look of exasperation. I’d only been home for five minutes—that had to be a new record.
“The guest room is yours if you want it,” Kieran told me. “Before Mom kidnaps you and drowns you in cookies.”
“There are worse fates.”
Unexpectedly, Kieran grabbed me again and gave me another hug. I stood there awkwardly for a long few seconds before I let out a sigh and hugged him back.
“I’ll order food for everyone.” Clay said. “Any preference, Brodie?”
“Hot and not served at thirty thousand feet.”
“Order from Rosa’s. Get a number two, four, eight, extra garlic bites, and anything you think looks good. The menu is in the drawer at the end there.” Kieran held tight to me while he gave Clay directions.
Eventually, after one more tight squeeze, Kieran let go of me.
“What was that for?” I asked him. My body felt heavy and not entirely steady so I let myself drop back down to the couch. Sleep was still something I needed more of, but the nap had taken the edge off and now that I knew food was coming, my stomach growled, practically eating itself in anticipation.
“You looked like you needed it.” Kieran sat in the recliner and when Clay approached, a little nervous, Kieran pulled him down into his lap. Arrows shot me in the heart. It was hard to see them so in love when I’d flown halfway around the world to try and escape my own heartbreak.
“How long are you in town for?” Kieran asked. It was a reasonable question. I hadn’t spent a lot of time here. Usually I flew in for a week or so, let everyone dote on me, and then I took off again on my next adventure. But I was tired and sad and sick of airports.
“I don’t know yet, but for a while, I think.” I leaned back and shut my eyes for a second. At least I thought it had only been a second, but the sound of the front door shutting and the sudden smell of food had me opening my eyes.
“Holy shit.” I dragged my hand down my face and looked at the spread of food that Kieran unpacked on the coffee table.
“I’m giving you tonight and all day tomorrow to hide here, but the day after tomorrow you’re going to see Mom. And Shane before he kicks both our asses.”
“How generous of you.” I leaned forward and flipped open the first container. A gloriously cheesy sight greeted me. “Oh fuck, the five cheese mac. I missed this.” I grabbed a fork and dug in. I scooted over to make room for Kieran, who let Clay take the recliner. I’d have offered to take the solo seat if it didn’t feel so nice to have my brother sitting next to me.
“Catch me up. What’s been going on?”
Kieran slid the box of garlic bread over and I grabbed a piece.
“Nothing new since our last email a few days ago.”
My chewing slowed as I remembered the last email I sent him. I’d been so happy, determined that I might never come home. Shane kept shoveling money at me to keep me out in the world and I’d had Liam. There wasn’t a reason to come home.
I wasn’t happy about the situation that brought me here, but there was something bittersweet about coming home. I’d missed my family, even if they were pains in my ass.
“You’re really not going to tell them that I’m home until the day after tomorrow?”
Kieran leaned over and bumped my shoulder with his. “You’ll be grumpy and sleepy. I figure the least I can do is give you a day to figure out which way is up.”
“I’ll get the spare room freshened up for you.” Clay stood and offered me a smile.
“Oh, that’s not necessary. I know where everything is. I can do it. Don’t go to any trouble for me.”
“It’s no trouble.”
“Really—”
“Brodie, he’s trying to give us five minutes alone so I can interrogate you before I make you shower and go to bed,” Kieran cut me off.
Letting out a sigh, I dunked my garlic bread in my mac and cheese. “Fine, interrogate away.” I looked up at my brother’s boyfriend. “Thank you, Clay. That’s very thoughtful of you.”
He looked kind of unsure of himself as he slinked out of the room, or maybe it was me he was unsure of.
“Is he okay? I didn’t ruin any of your plans, did I?”
